What's surprising about Martha Edgerton (front) and Leslie
Wiggins being belly dancers isn't that their day jobs are
in the Johns Hopkins Sheridan Libraries. Lots of artists
and dancers and musicians work there, points out Edgerton,
a book and paper conservator in the library's preservation
department.

No, the surprising part is that both women are so slim they
lack the jiggling midsection that gives the Middle Eastern
dance its name. "Belly dancers come in all sizes," says
Edgerton, who along with Wiggins must exaggerate her
shimmies, omis (hip circles), and other moves to be seen by
the audience. The duo has been taking classes and
performing with Egyptian Sun, a Johns Hopkins belly dancing
troupe, for about three years. Both say they like that the
troupe includes people of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Then
there's the fact that they can choreograph their routines
to any style of music, like country-western, heavy metal,
or hip-hop. And the costumes and props — gauzy,
glinting, melodious — aren't half bad either. "We
just got our swords," says Edgerton. "We have to learn to
balance them on our heads while we dance."

The women are confident performers, yet to date they've
declined invitations to dance at the library's holiday
party. "Too close," says Wiggins, Web site coordinator for
the library dean's office. "I'd rather be up on stage."
— Maria Blackburn